Excuses made for missing a deer
We have numerous threads on success in the field.
Now, what reasons / excuses do you have for shooting at and not harvesting a deer? Rifle, shotgun or archery.
A few years ago, I had a small buck at 50 yards broadside walking quickly and missed using a Remington 760 pump in .06. I dont believe it was " buck fever" as I've had plenty of success at that range. Later that season, I had a doe at 125 +- that I missed. WTF?
I took the gun to the range and hit a 1 inch group at 50.
I lost faith in the gun although it was not the gun.
In 40 years, I've had a few others as well to include:
Hit branches.
Deer moved as trigger was pressed.
How about you guys?
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
I don't need any excuses, I haven't missed 100% of the deer I've shot at.
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
streaker69
I don't need any excuses, I haven't missed 100% of the deer I've shot at.
That's cool.
Based on conversations I've had with hundreds of guys I've worked with or run into, that doesn't seem to be the norm.
The terms I've heard are." I crippled one up".
"I hear the noise a bullet makes when I hit a deer. If I dont hear that, I dont bother looking for it".
A guy I know fired 7 rounds into the ground in front of him and a few years later, ejected all 7 rounds without pulling the trigger. Yet he has scored many large racked animals.
"I think.i missed clean".
I suppose quite a few guys are hesitant to admit not having a clean.kill.or wounding and not recovering an animal.
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
27hand
That's cool.
Based on conversations I've had with hundreds of guys I've worked with or run into, that doesn't seem to be the norm.
The terms I've heard are." I crippled one up".
"I hear the noise a bullet makes when I hit a deer. If I dont hear that, I dont bother looking for it".
A guy I know fired 7 rounds into the ground in front of him and a few years later, ejected all 7 rounds without pulling the trigger. Yet he has scored many large racked animals.
"I think.i missed clean".
I suppose quite a few guys are hesitant to admit not having a clean.kill.or wounding and not recovering an animal.
Keep in mind, I haven't shot at any deer. So I haven't missed 100% of the ones I shot at.
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
My usual hiccup if I rush is I shoot with my right eye and miss completely
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
A guy I was hunting with yesterday missed a doe at about 25 yards. Picked up his rifle, got the deer in the scope and....blam!!!! Shot a tree branch right in front of his muzzle!!! Yeah, we made fun of him for the rest of the day! LOL!
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
The first time I was aiming at a walking buck surrounded by does. When the buck was clear of the does I started squeezing the trigger and when the gun went off I was looking at the trunk of an 18" oak tree. The tree was wounded but I am pretty sure it recovered. The buck however met my uncle's brother and did not make it.
The other time I borrowed my grandfathers .32 special and shot at a buck about 75 yds away. He was picking his way through the rocks so I had several chances. After the first 2 I thought I was shooting high so I aimed at the junction of his chest and front leg and missed again. I dropped another 8 inches and missed the last time. Later I shot at a target about 20 yds away and was 3 inches low!
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
27hand
"I hear the noise a bullet makes when I hit a deer. If I dont hear that, I dont bother looking for it".
Funny thing you posted this, I've gotten a few deer over the years and yesterday was the first time I did hear it hit home.
Re: Excuses made for missing a deer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rosco the Iroc
Funny thing you posted this, I've gotten a few deer over the years and yesterday was the first time I did hear it hit home.
The guy hunted with a 30-30 and was recoil sensitive.
He switched to a 44mag, then 44-40 and is now using a .357 mag rifle.
He described it as a thwack sound.
I can never remember hearing that with my 30-30 or my .44 pistol.